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THE CLASSIC TT continues to go from strength to strength with an ever-growing roster of star riders and more interest than ever before in the four race classes. It’s become one of the most hotly contested and eagerly awaited classic racing events on the international calendar and the lap times the quicker riders are posting are sometimes not that far off the times in the TT itself. That and the perennial challenge of the world-famous Mountain Course make the Classic TT a must-see.
The four classes can be slightly confusing to firsttimers at the event. The Lightweight race is for 250cc twins (1973-2004), up to 750cc four-stroke twins, up to 600cc four-stroke fours (1973-86) and 126-350cc two-strokes (1968-93). The Junior class takes in 175-350cc machines and the Senior is for 351-500cc bikes (four-strokes 1945-72 and two-strokes 1945-57 – with a few named exceptions). Finally, the Superbike race caters for up to 1300cc four-strokes (1973-86), 700-750cc fourstroke fours (1987-82), up to 1000cc four-stroke twins and triples – plus Norton rotaries (1987-92) and 351750cc two-strokes (1968-92). Got all that?
Between the racing, there’s more than enough happening on the Island to keep visitors occupied. Every pub and café on the Island becomes a mini bike show and there’s a special celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of John Surtees’ final win at the TT. Watch out for his Vincent Grey Flash racer, his 1960 world championship-winning 500cc MV Agusta and other bikes from the Surtees family collection take on the parade lap on August 29. iomttraces.com